Bearing/Race Question - Opinions wanted

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foamypirate

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Hey guys,

Random opinion question for ya'll today. I just ordered new rotors and new bearings. Now, the new rotors come with their own races installed, and the bearings come with their own (presumably matched) races. Would you guys remove the pre-installed races from the rotors and install the matched race from the bearing kit? Or is that complete and total overkill and I should just run the bearings with the races already installed in the rotors and call it a day?
 

Georgeb

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I have just dropped the bearings into the already installed races with no issues on daily driven trucks. If you current races are good you could swap them over if you like. One thing to consider is the pre installed races are most likely cheap chinese ones. If your originals are National ot Timkin bearings by all means swap them over. It doesnt take long and it's cheap insurance. I gues in all honesty after all this blabber I would swap races.
 

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Usually the races get nicked when you remove them. If it were me I would be installing new bearings and races at the same time as the rotors. You ordered new bearings and races ?
 

Georgeb

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Usually the races get nicked when you remove them. If it were me I would be installing new bearings and races at the same time as the rotors. You ordered new bearings and races ?

Good point! They can get knicked. I always use a brass driver for removing them very carefuy. Installing new is always safest.
 

foamypirate

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Usually the races get nicked when you remove them. If it were me I would be installing new bearings and races at the same time as the rotors. You ordered new bearings and races ?

Good point! They can get knicked. I always use a brass driver for removing them very carefuy. Installing new is always safest.

Yep, new rotors (which come with new races) and new bearing kits (which also come with races). Sounds like I'd be best off just driving the races out of the new rotors (probably cheap chinese, as mentioned) and discarding them, and installing the new races that came with the bearings, which are Timken. Both bearing races would be new, but it just seems "right" to install the races from the bearing kit. Just wanted to see what folk's opinion was on using the new races included with the rotor.
 

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